two children at once. 2, Though he gave no pledge, the president ought not to distrust him or his people. There had been already lives enough lost on both sides, and by his fault there should never be any more. He had grown old, and desired to die peaceably. He should hardly fight even for just cause; the country was wide enough, and he would rather retreat. "Thus much," he concluded, "I hope will satisfy my brother. And so here, as you are weary and sleepy, we will end." He then ordered a supper and good lodgings for his guest, and the latter took his leave for the night.

Early the next morning Powhatan himself visited Mr. Hamer at his lodging-place, and invited him to return to his own wigwam. There he entertained him in his handsomest manner. The time passed pleasantly, and Mr. Hamer began to feel at home. By and by came in an Englishman, one who had been surprised in a skirmish three years before at Fort Henry, and detained ever since. He was so completely savage in his complexion and dress, that Hamer only recognised him by his voice. He now asked that gentleman to obtain leave for him to return with him to the colony, and the request was accordingly, made, and even pressed. The emperor was vexed at length. Mr. Hamer," said he, "you have one of my daughters, and I am content. But you cannot see one of your men with me, but you must have him away or break friendship. But take him if you will. In that case, however, you must go home without guides (which were generally offered the English on these occasions), and if any evil befalls you, thank yourselves."

66

Hamer replied that he would do so, but he would not answer for the consequences if any accident should happen. The emperor was incensed at this, and left him, but he appeared again at supper time, feasted his guest with his best fare, and conversed cheerfully. About midnight he roused Hamer from a nap to tell him he had concluded to let Parker (the captive) go with him in the morning. But he must remind Sir Thomas to send him, in consideration thereof, ten large pieces of copper, a shaving-knife, a grindstone, a net, and sundry fish-hooks and other small matters. For fear Hamer should forget these particulars, he made him write a list of them in what the historians call a table-book, which he produced. "However he got it,"* says the narrator, "it was a faire one, and I desired he would give it me." Powhatan evaded this modest request by saying that he kept it to show to strangers; but when his guest left him in the morning he furnished him and his attendants with ample provision for his journey, gave each of them a buck's skin, "as well dressed as could be," and sent two more to his son-in-law and daughter.

There is much matter for reflection in this simple narrative. The sagacity of Powhatan in discerning the true object of the visit is worthy of the fearless dignity with which he exposed it. He gave little heed, it would seem, to the pretext of marriage, and considering

* Probably of some English captive. Smith wrote his famous letter to Jamestown, during his first captivity, on what he calls the leaf of a tablebook.

only the age of his daughter, especially as compared with the president's, there was reason enough why he should. His conjectures were undoubtedly correct, and he had some right to be offended at the jealousy which was still harbored by the colonists. Stith expressly states, that the policy of Sir Thomas was merely to obtain an additional pledge for the preservation of peace.

The affection which Powhatan here manifests for his children, his hospitality even to one who took liberties upon the strength of it, his liberality, the resolution with which he maintained peace while he still evidently distrusted the English honor, his ready evasions and intelligent reasoning, his sensibility to insult, which he nevertheless thought it beneath him to resent, are all easily to be perceived in this instance, and are well worthy to be regarded among other evidences of his temper and genius.

His self-command and his chivalrous courtesy on every former occasion would have done no dishonor, in another country and time, to the lion-hearted monarch of England himself. In this respect he was well matched with Smith, and it is not the least interesting point in the common history of the two, to observe the singular union of suavity and energy with which both effected their purposes. Immediately after delivering the celebrated reply which he sent to Newport's proposal by Smith, the historian adds that "many other discourses they had, (yet both content to give each other content in complimentall courtesies), and so Captain Smith returned with his answer." In the same style, when Newport came himself, perceiving his purpose was to discover and invade the Monacans, we are told that he "refused to lend him either men or guides more than Namontack, and so, after some complimental kindnesse on both sides," he presented the disappointed captain with seven or eight bushels of corn, and wished him a pleasant journey to Jamestown. He would not suffer so brave a man as Smith to be even beheaded, without having first ordered two of his queens to serve him with water and a bunch of feathers, and then feasted him in what the victim himself considered his best barbarous manner. It is very evident there was neither fear nor hypocrisy in any of these cases.

None of the noble traits we have mentioned lose any of their charm from being connected, as they are, with the utmost simplicity of barbarism. The reader of these times, therefore, may be allowed to smile at the pertinacity with which this mighty warrior and renowned monarch insisted upon Parker's being ransomed in fish-hooks, and the solemn gravity with which he divested himself of his mantle and old shoes for the gratification and reward of Newport. The presents sent to him by Sir Thomas Dale were two pieces of copper, five strings of white and blue beads, five wooden combs, ten fish-hooks, and a pair of knives, not to mention the promise of a grindstone, whenever he should send for it-clearly a much better bargain for his daughter, had he wished to dispose of her, than the two bushels of Roanoke. The werowances and queens of conquered nations waited upon him at his meals, as humbly as certain kings of the middle ages are said

to have waited upon the Pope; but, unlike his holiness, Powhatan could make his own robes, shoes, bows, arrows, and pots, besides planting his corn for exercise, and hunting deer for amusement. The Indians generally subsisted on fish in the spring, and lived light for some months after; but "Powhatan, their great king, and some others that are provident, roast their fish and flesh vpon hurdles, and keepe it till scarce times."*

He

"But as

In fine, it would seem that no candid person can read the history of this famous Indian, with an attentive consideration of the circumstances under which he was placed, without forming a high estimate of his character as a warrior, a statesman, and a patriot. His defi ciencies were those of education and not of genius. His faults were those of the people whom he governed, and of the period in which he lived. His great talents, on the other hand, were his own, and these are acknowledged even by those historians who still regard him with prejudice. Stith calls him a prince of excellent sense and parts, and a great master of all the savage arts of government and policy. adds that he was penetrating, crafty, insidious and cruel. to the great and moral arts of policy," he concludes, "such as truth, faith, uprightness, and magnanimity, they seemed to have been but little heeded or regarded by him." Burk's opinion appears to us more correct. In the cant of civilisation, (says that excellent historian,) he will doubtless be branded with the epithets of tyrant and barbarian; but his title to greatness, though his opportunities were fewer, is to the full as fair as that of Tamerlane or Kowli Khan, and several others whom history has immortalised, while the proofs of his tyranny are by no means so clear. Still it might have been as reasonable to say that there are no such proofs in being. The kind of martial law which the emperor sometimes exercised over his own subjects was not only a matter of custom, founded on the necessity which must always exist among ignorant men, but it was a matter of license, which had grown into constitutional law by common consent. It has been justly observed, that there is no possibility of a true despotism under an Indian government. It is reason that governs, nominally at least, and the authority is only the more effectual as the obedience is more voluntary.

CHAPTER VII.

THE FAMILY OF POWHATAN-SEQUEL OF THE HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS— HER CIVILISATION AND INSTRUCTION IN CHRISTIANITY-HER VISIT TO ENGLAND IN 1616-HER DEATH AND CHARACTER-HER DESCENDANTS.

The family of Powhatan was numerous and influential. Two sons and two daughters have already been mentioned. There were also three brothers younger than himself, and upon them successively,

* Smith's account of the Natural Inhabitants of Virginia.

*

according to their several ages, custom seems to have required that the government should devolve after his own death. The eldest, Opitchipan, accordingly succeeded him, in form at least. But this prince was an inactive and unambitious man, owing in some degree perhaps to his being decrepid, and he was soon thrown into the shade by the superior energy and talent of Opechancanough, who before many years engrossed in fact the whole power of the government. Of the younger brother, Kekataugh, scarcely any thing is known. He probably died before any opportunity occurred of signalising himself in a public station. The sequel of the history of Opechancanough is well worthy of being dwelt upon at some length; but previously, the order of time requires us to devote a share of attention to the fortunes of his celebrated niece, Pocahontas.

This beautiful and amiable woman, whom John Smith, in the excess of his admiration, styles "the Numpareil of Virginia," has been distinguished in modern times, chiefly by that single extraordinary act of courage and humanity to which the gallant historian was indebted for the preservation of his life. But this was by no means the only evidence of these noble qualities which history has preserved. Her name indeed is scarcely once mentioned by the most ancient chronicles of the colony, except in terms of high eulogy, and generally in connection also with some substantial facts, going strongly to justify the universal partiality with which her memory is regarded to these times.

In the earliest and most gloomy days of the settlement, immediately after Smith's return from his captivity, the liberal and thoughtful kindness of Pocahontas went very far to cheer the desponding hearts of the colonists, as well as to relieve their actual necessities. She came into Jamestown with her attendants once in every four or five days for a long time, and brought with her supplies of provisions, by which many lives are stated to have been saved. This will appear more fully from an ancient document which we shall hereafter transcribe at length.

When Smith was absent upon one of his Indian expeditions, emergencies occurred at Jamestown which rendered his presence extremely desirable. But not a man could be found who dared venture to carry a message to him from the council. He was known to be environed by enemies, and the hostility and power of Powhatan were at that period subjects of the most exaggerated apprehension. One Richard Wyffin at last undertook the hazardous enterprise. Encountering many dangers and difficulties, he reached the residence of Powhatan a day or two after Smith had left it for Pamunkey. He found that great preparations for war were going on among the Powhatans, and he soon became himself the object of suspicion. His life undoubtedly

* By various writers called Itopatin, Itoyatin, Oetan, Opitchipan, Toyatan-a characteristic instance of the uncertainty which attends the orthography of Indian proper names. One cause is the custom of changing the name upon great occasions. Opitchipan himself, after his accession, was called Sasawpen; and Opechancanough, Mangopeeomen.

would have paid the forfeit of his rashness, had not Pocahontas, who knew his perilous situation even better than himself, concealed him, and thwarted and embarrassed the search of the savages who pursued him, so that "by her means and extraordinary bribes, and much trouble in three days' travell," as history says, "at length he found vs in the middest of these turmoyles," (at Jamestown.)

Her conduct was the same after Smith's departure for England. Of the thirty men who accompanied Ratcliffe when he was massacred by the Indians, only one escaped to the colony, and one was rescued by Pocahontas. This was a boy named Henry Spilman, who subsequently was restored to his friends,* and from the knowledge of Indian languages which he obtained during his residence with the Patowomekes, proved highly serviceable as an interpreter. Smith himself was more than once under obligations to the princess for his personal safety. We have alluded to that occasion when he quartered over night near the residence of her father. "Pocahontas, his dearest jewell and daughter, in that darke night came through the irksome woods, and told our captain great cheare should be sent vs by and by, but Powhatan and all the power he could make would after come kill vs all, if they that brought it could not kill us with our own weapons when we were at supper. Therefore if we would liue, she wished vs presently to be gone. Such things as she delighted in he would haue giuen her, but with the tears running down her cheekes, she said she durst not be seen to have any, for if Powhatan should know it she were but dead, and so she ran away by herself as she came." What an affecting instance of the most delicate tenderness mingled with the loftiest courage.

It would have been strange indeed if Smith, with all his passionate chivalry, had been insensible of these repeated kindnesses. Even Powhatan had too good an opinion of him to suppose so, for he had the sagacity to rely upon his gratitude for political purposes. When some of the emperor's subjects were taken prisoners by Smith, (although peace was nominally existing,) and forced to confess that Powhatan had employed them to work mischief against the colony, the latter "sent messengers, and his dearest daughter Pocahontas," with presents, to make apologies for the past and promises for the future. Smith, on the other hand, (who understood as well as any one the part of a gentleman,) after giving the prisoners such correction as he deemed necessary, treated them well for a day or two, and then delivered them to Pocahontas, "for whose sake only he fayned to haue saued their liues, and gaue them libertie." The emperor was paid for this ingenuity in his own coin, when the colonists, in 1613, took the princess herself captive, relying on the well-known strength of his attachment to her as the surest means of procuring peace.

Her subsequent history may be soon told. Rolfe had become ardently enamoured of her beauty, and he used the fortunate occasion

* He was destined, however, to die at last by the hands of the savages in 1623.

*